Clothes washing machine and agitator therefor



1950 F. H. M CORMICK El AL 2,493,394

CLOTHES WASHING CHINE AND AGITATOR TPEREFQR Filed July 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS By an J14 Feb. 28, 1950 F. H; M CORMICK ET AL. 2,498,394

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND AGITATOR THEREFOR Filed July 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented; il 'eb. 28, 1950 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND AGITATOR THEREFOR Francis E. McCormick and Kendall Clark, Oakwood, Ohio, assisnors to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,102

6 Claims.

This invention relates to domestic appliances,

and more particularly to washing machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a clothes or fabric washing machine hawng a tub provided with agitating means which not only serves to circulate the contents of the tub and apply to the fabrics a scrubbing and flexing action, but simultaneously collects from the liquid on a readily cleanable screen such extraneous substances as the lint and soap scum formed during the washing process.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical cross-section of the tub portion of a washing machine embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical cross-section similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of agitating means.

A washing machine embodying features of this invention may include a tub construction III, which, if desired, is capable of rotation for the centrifugal drying of the tub contents. For this purpose the tub may include an outer liquid retaining, or imperforate, receptacle Illa and an inner perforate receptacle Illb, provided with perforations I00, both of said receptacles being rigidly fastened together to remain stationary or to be rotated together by power mechanism, not illustrated, and which may be of any desired construction, and may be attached to the lower central portion of the tub construction. Such mechanism, by way of example, may be of the character disclosed in the copending application of Kendall Clark, S. N. 358,871, filed September 28, 1940, Patent No. 2,366,236, patented Jan. 2, 1945.

The washing machine tub l may be provided with agitating means in the form of a washing element II, which washing element may be provided with scum removing extraneous substance arresting means l2 capable of arresting or removing from the liquid such extraneous substances as lint and scum.

The washing element ii preferably is formed with an upper cylindrical portion l3 and a lower conical portion M. The cylindrical portion I3 is provided with openings through which liquid may circulate into the interior of the washnot perform any, arresting function.

ing element. These openings l5 are larger than Means may be provided for causing a forcible circulation of liquid through the extraneous substance arresting means or screen i2. Preferably this takes the form of valve means 46, which is operated by the action of the vertical reciprocation of the washing element or agitator ii. The valve means preferably is in the form of a rubber-like disc held by the nut 47 at its central portion against a perforated valve seat 18.

The construction is such that the valve l6 opens away from the valve seat 53 on the up-stroke of the agitator to the position Na and closes on the down-stroke of the agitator to the position l8b.

It is to be noted that the perforated shell [3 forms a protecting cover for the screen l2 which prevents the clothes or fabrics from coming in contact with the screen l2. The openings [5, being appreciably larger than the lint and scum particles, and being much larger than the openings in the screen I2, allow the lint and scum particles to pass through the perforated shell lit to be arrested by the screen l2. At the same time the shell l3 prevents the fabrics from coming into contact with the screen I2 and therefore prevents the fabrics from brushing the arrested lint and scum particles from the screen.

The washing element or agitator H preferably is mounted on a vertically reciprocable shaft 19, which is connected to power mechanism in the lower portion of the machine, not shown, to produce rapid vertical reciprocations of the agitator.

The washing element may be reciprocated at a' speed of from 250 to 500 reciprocations per minute. major toroidal circulation of liquid and fabrics, or other articles being washed, as indicated by the arrows 2 I.

If desired, a conical flexible lip or cone 20 may be provided at the lower edge of the washing element. A flexible bellows 22 may be secured to the central portion .of the tub I0 and to the shaft iii, to prevent flow of liquid into the driving mechanism.

A detergent dispensing means may be provided in the agitator I I. This may take the form of a funnel 23, provided with perforations 23a at its upper end and the opening 24 at its lower end. Preferably the filter or screen I! is cylindrical in form and may be made of fine metal mesh or cloth reinforced by metal mesh. The screen may be of any suitable size fine mesh. If it is to arrest mainly lint, the perforations or These rapid reciprocations produce a openings may be one-eighth inch or less in size; but, if desired, the screen may be as fine as 100 mesh per lineal inch. The screen is provided with flanges 25 to hold it spaced from the cylindrical shell I3. The funnel 23 is provided with a flanged upper end 28, which overlaps the flange 25 of the screen I2. A cap 21 may be removably secured to the upper inlet of the shell I3, which is provided with a shoulder 28, to hold the upper end of the funnel 23 in place. The lower end 24 of the funnel 23 bears against the spider 29, carried by the upper end of the shaft l9 and which is secured to the washing element, for example, by the screw construc tion 30. The cap 21 may be held in place either by its own resilient construction cooperating with the flange 3|, or it may be internally screwthreaded to cooperate with an external screwthreaded construction on the shell I3.

In the operation of the washing machine, the cap 21 is removed, and a suitable detergent, such as powdered soap, is placed in the funnel 23. The cap 21 is replaced. Thereafter, clothes, or other fabrics or articles to be washed, and water or other washing liquid are introduced into the tub ID to substantially fill the tub near the level of the upper lip 32 of the tub Illa.

The power mechanism, not shown, then is energized to produce rapid reciprocation 'of the agitator I I, and this causes a major toroidal circution of liquid and fabrics as indicated by the arrows 2|. This major circulation does not pass through the screen I2, but circulates down outside the washing element. The upper surface of the liquid then assumes a shape somewhat as indicated by the line 33. The agitator also produces a minor circulation, indicated by the arrows 34 through the screen I2 and near the funnel 23. This minor circulation passes through the screen I2, and any particles of lint and scum which are carried by this minor circulation pass through the openings I5, but are arrested by the screen I2.

Circulation of liquid near the funnel 23 and surging into it also serves to mix the detergent with the washing liquid. The use of the funnel 23 to mix the detergent prevents the undissolved detergent from depositin on the fabrics. The circulation or flow of liquid into the funnel 23 may be produced by liquid passing through the openings 23a, or it may be produced by the alternate surgingof liquid upward and downward through the opening 24, or it maybe provided by a combination of both.

The minor circulation of liquid, indicated'by the arrows 34 preferably is produced by the action of the valve means I6, operating because of the vertical reciprocation of the agitator.

After the agitation or wash period is terminated, the vertical reciprocation of the agitator I I may be stopped and the tub I0, together with the agitator I I may be rapidly rotated to centrifugally dry the clothes or other articles being washed. The liquid flows through the perforations IIlc of inner basket Ifib and over the lip 32 of the outer tub IIla. Thereafter, if desired, a rinse liquid, such as water alone, may be introduced into the tub and the operation repeated one or more times to rinse the clothes.

Where liquid is referred to, water alone, or water and soap, or any other cleaning fluid may be used.

The term "extraneous substance as used herein is intended to define any or all of the undesirable substances of a non-colloidal nature which tend to circulate with the wishing fluid and which, unless removed, tend to deposit on the articles being washed, particularly during the drying operation. Such substances include lint, which comes from the clothes themselves, or insoluble particles produced by reaction such as between soap, water and/ or soil during the washing operation, or any other similar undesirable substances.

The screen I2 may be removed periodically to be cleaned, and to be returned in a clean condition. In the modification shwn in Fig. 2, a vertically reciprocable washing element -is;. used,. and is pro,- vided with lint "and scum arrestingmeans somewhat similar to Fig. 1; but the .iininor circulation of liquid is produced without. the aid of valvemeans. Wherever applicable the} construction" and operation shown in-Fig;-2 is substantially of same as in Fig. 1, and corresponding parts 135. e

been numbered with the same numeral; but w'ihf added thereto. Therefore, wherever numerals 100 higher than in Fig, Tflukedptltesagne. de-.

scription and operation is inten'd edto apply-and the description is ,not repeated.

The washing element III--is provided withfia,

perforated shell II 3 havingiperforationsI151 It is also provided with a screen .I I2 having'upper and lower flanges I25. This' s'creen rests on'the nut I52 at its lower end, and is held in placeat its upper end by the shell II3. The lower. flange" I25 may snap into a groove in the nut I52. The agitator I I I is provided with a lower conical portion I I4 and a flexible conical lower lip I20, which is held in place by an inner metal or plastic cone I5I. The disc I50 and cone I5I are secured to the agitator III and are held in place between the nut III and cap I52, to secure the agitator to the shaft II9. A flange I53, of rubber or the like is secured to the upper end of the shell II3.

In the operation of this modification, the cap I21 is removed, and detergent is placed inside of the screen II2. Thereafter the cap I2! is replaced over the shell II3. Fabrics to be washed are placed in the inner basket H01) and liquid is introduced to a level near the overflow lip I32. Thereafter the agitator I I I is rapidly reciprocated vertically, and this produces the major toroidal circulation of fabrics and liquid indicated by the arrows I2I. This major toroidal circulation, together with the action of flange I53, also induces a minor circulation of liquid through the agitator III, which minor circulation enters through the upper perforations II5 as indicated at I34a. The

, minor circulation passes into and out of the screen H2. The minor circulation passes out of the agitator III through the lower perforations II5 as indicated at I34b. The lint and scum particles are arrested on the inner surface of the screen I I2, and these may later be removed after the washing operation by the removal of screen II2 from the agitator, so that the screen may be brushed or washed for reuse.

Otherwise the construction and operation of the modification shown in Fig. 2 is the same as that heretofore described with respect to Fig. 1.

While the extraneous substance arresting constructions, and detergent disturbing devices have been shown for use with centrifugally rotatable tubs, it is to be understood that many of the advantages may be obtained when used with stationary tubs and with roller wringer constructions, and, accordingly, such modifications are within the purview of the invention.

The term screen as used herein is intended was I ture atits upperendascreenineaidagitator to define any device capable of arresting extraneous substances, and may be any filter, or arrester, made of coarse fabric, wire mesh, closely spaced parallel wires or bars, perforated metal, or the like.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator centrally located in said tub, said agitator comprising a generally cylindrical casing in the upper part of said agitator and a generally conical extension in the lower part of said agitator, said cylindrical casing having relatively large openings along its vertical wall and having an aperture at its upper end, a screen in said agitator having relatively small openings and being removable through said aperture, a removable cover for said aperture, and means to move said agitator back and forth in said tub to cause a major circulation of fluid in said tub outside said agitator and a minor circulation of fluid through said openings.

2. In a washing machine, a tube, an agitator centrally located in said tub, said agitator comprising a generally cylindrical casing in the upper part of said agitator and a generally conical extension in the lower part of said agitator, said cylindrical casing having relatively large openings along its vertical wall and having an aperture at its upper end, a screen in said agitator having relatively small openings and being removable through said aperture, a removable cover for said aperture, and means to reciprocate said agitator vertically in said tub to cause a major unidirectional toroidal circulation of fluid in said tub outside said agitator and a minor circulation of fluid through said openings.

3. In a washing machine, a tube, an agitator centrally located in said tub, said agitator comprising a generally cylindrical casing in the upper part of said agitator and a generally conical extension in the lower part of said agitator, said cylindrical casing having relatively large openings along its vertical wall and having an aperture at its upper end, a screen in said agitator having relatively small openings and being removable through said aperture, a removable cover for said aperture, a one-way valve in said agitator, and means to move said agitator back and forth in said tub to cause a major circulation of fluid in said tub outside said agitator and a minor circulation of fluid through said openings.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator centrally located in said tub, said agitator comprising a generally cylindrical casing in the upper part of said agitator and a generally conical extension in the lower part of said agitator, said cylindrical casing having relatively large openings along its vertical wall and having an aperhaving relatively small openings and adapted to receive dispersible laundering material introduced through said aperture to be disseminated during operation of said agitator, an openable cover for said aperture, and means to move said agitator back and forth in said tub to cause a major circulation of fluid in said tub outside said agitator and a minor circulation of fluid through said openings.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator centrally located in said tub, said agitator comprising a generally cylindrical casing in the upper part of said agitator and a generally conical extension in the lower part of said agitator, said cylindrical casing having relatively large openings along its vertical wall and having an aperture at its upper end, a screen in said agitator having relatively small openings and adapted to receive dispersible laundering material introduced through said aperture to be disseminated during operation of said agitator, an openable cover for said aperture, and means to reciprocate said agitator vertically in said tub to cause a ma,-or unidirectional toroidal circulation of fluid in said tub outside said agitator and a minor circulation of fluid through said openings.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator centrally located in said tub, said agitator com prising a generally cylindrical casing in the upper partof said agitator and a generally conicai extension in the lower part of said agitator, said cylindrical casing having relatively large openings along its vertical wall and having an aperture at its upper end, a screen in said agitator having relatively small openings and adapted to receive dispersible laundering material introduced through said aperture to be disseminated during operation of said agitator, an openahie cover for said aperture, a one-way valve in said agitator, and means to move said agitator back and fourth in said tub to cause a major circula tion of fluid in said tub outside said agitator and a minor circulation of fluid through said openings.

FRANCIS H. McCORMICK. KENDALL CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction v Patent No. 2,498,894 February 28, 1950 FRANCIS H. MCCORMICK ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent reqmring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 23, for Fig. 7 read Fig. 1; column 5, lines 27 and 42, for the word tube read tub;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 16th dsy of May, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gomma'uionct of Patents. 

